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Türkiye has been named the loneliest country in the world by the digital platform JB.com, topping a 36-country study on emotional well-being and social isolation with a maximum score of 100.
The report created its rankings using a "loneliness score" based on several factors. These included how often people feel lonely or isolated, their levels of sadness and happiness, depression rates, and household patterns like how many people live alone and the average household size. Countries with higher scores were perceived to have a greater risk of loneliness.
Türkiye recorded the highest loneliness score in the study, reaching 100 out of a possible 100.
According to the report, 61% of respondents in Türkiye said they felt lonely, while 45% reported feeling isolated. Around 31% said they frequently feel sad.
The study noted that although one in five Turkish households consists of a single person, emotional disconnection—rather than physical solitude—emerged as a primary driver of loneliness in the country.
India came in second with a loneliness score of 89. The report found that 58% of people in India feel lonely, and 34% feel isolated.
India also had the highest rate of frequent sadness among the top five countries, at 37%. The study noted that although only 3.7% of households are single-person households and the average household has more than four people, many in India still feel emotionally disconnected.
The report said that loneliness in India is caused more by emotional issues than by living alone.
| Rank | Country | Loneliness Score |
| 1. | Turkey | 100 |
| 2. | India | 89 |
| 3. | Brazil | 86 |
| 4. | Saudi Arabia | 85 |
| 5. | South Africa | 83 |
| 6. | United Arab Emirates | 82 |
| 7. | United Kingdom | 81 |
| 8. | United States | 80 |
| 9. | Australia | 78 |
| 10. | Indonesia | 77 |
Brazil was third with a loneliness score of 78. The report found that 53% of Brazilians feel lonely and 43% feel isolated.
Brazil also had higher life satisfaction compared to the other top five countries. The study found that loneliness and happiness do not always go in opposite directions.
South Africa was fourth. Sixty-five percent of people there, the highest among the top five, said they feel lonely, but only 18% said they feel isolated.
The study found that this difference shows that loneliness and social connectedness do not always align.
South Korea was fifth on the list. The study found that 57% of people there feel lonely. Its ranking was partly due to 36.1% of households having only one person, which is the highest rate among all countries in the study.
The study examined 36 countries and was conducted by JB.com, a digital entertainment platform. Researchers used self-reported emotional data and household statistics to create each country’s loneliness score. Higher scores meant a greater risk of loneliness, and the scoring system considered both personal feelings and living conditions.
The report did not say how many people were surveyed in each country or give details about their backgrounds. It also did not mention when the data was collected.
Uzbekistan and the Netherlands were the least lonely countries in the study. Both had lower isolation and higher happiness scores. The report also listed Canada and Thailand among the countries with lower levels of loneliness.
The findings show that loneliness is not just about living alone or with many people. Emotional and social factors play a significant role, regardless of the living situation.
The study highlights that Türkiye and India are part of a global trend where many people feel disconnected, even in places with strong family and community ties.
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